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| Ministers haggle over fish quotas | Ministers haggle over fish quotas |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| EU ministers are meeting to set fishing quotas for 2007 amid renewed calls for a total ban on catching cod. | EU ministers are meeting to set fishing quotas for 2007 amid renewed calls for a total ban on catching cod. |
| The European Commission has recommended a 25% cut in cod and North Sea herring catches, lower plaice and sole quotas, and a six-month ban on anchovy fishing. | The European Commission has recommended a 25% cut in cod and North Sea herring catches, lower plaice and sole quotas, and a six-month ban on anchovy fishing. |
| Scientists warned earlier this year that only a total ban on cod fishing would enable stocks to recover. | Scientists warned earlier this year that only a total ban on cod fishing would enable stocks to recover. |
| Environmentalists have urged ministers to listen to the warnings and "change course" on fisheries policies. | Environmentalists have urged ministers to listen to the warnings and "change course" on fisheries policies. |
| However, European Commission spokeswoman Mireille Thom told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was also important to consider the fishing industry. | However, European Commission spokeswoman Mireille Thom told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was also important to consider the fishing industry. |
| UK fishing industry in figures "Obviously ending fishing... on cod would be most likely to give results, but we don't live in an ideal world," she said. | UK fishing industry in figures "Obviously ending fishing... on cod would be most likely to give results, but we don't live in an ideal world," she said. |
| "We have a fishing industry in Europe and the EU is committed to ensuring the future of that industry and therefore the approach that has been chosen so far is a gradual approach, trying to balance the need to protect and rebuild the cod stocks and allow a degree of activity for the fishing fleet." | "We have a fishing industry in Europe and the EU is committed to ensuring the future of that industry and therefore the approach that has been chosen so far is a gradual approach, trying to balance the need to protect and rebuild the cod stocks and allow a degree of activity for the fishing fleet." |
| The talks are expected to continue for two days, with the haggling likely to continue into Wednesday night. | The talks are expected to continue for two days, with the haggling likely to continue into Wednesday night. |
| British fishermen are calling for a rollover of this year's imposed restrictions, which reduced cod catches by 15%. | British fishermen are calling for a rollover of this year's imposed restrictions, which reduced cod catches by 15%. |
| You get to a point where if you go too far you simply plunge the fleet into a non-viable position Scottish Fisherman's Federation Scottish fleet's fears Commissioner gives pledge | You get to a point where if you go too far you simply plunge the fleet into a non-viable position Scottish Fisherman's Federation Scottish fleet's fears Commissioner gives pledge |
| UK Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw has called the commission's recommendations for a 25% cut "drastic", adding that he did not believe any European states would support the proposal. | UK Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw has called the commission's recommendations for a 25% cut "drastic", adding that he did not believe any European states would support the proposal. |
| Ross Finnie, Scotland's fisheries minister, added: "We have trimmed back so much, you get to a point where if you go too far you simply plunge the fleet into a non-viable position." | Ross Finnie, Scotland's fisheries minister, added: "We have trimmed back so much, you get to a point where if you go too far you simply plunge the fleet into a non-viable position." |
| Fragile ecosystem | Fragile ecosystem |
| The European Commission says recovery plans for northern hake and Bay of Biscay sole have been working, and is proposing an increase in quotas. | The European Commission says recovery plans for northern hake and Bay of Biscay sole have been working, and is proposing an increase in quotas. |
| Many stocks remained overfished, including cod, plaice, sole, southern hake and Nephrops, and ... reductions in fishing pressure will be necessary if they are to recover European Commission href="/1/hi/sci/tech/6108414.stm" class="">'50 years left' for sea fish It also says mackerel stocks are in good condition. | |
| But it underlines scientists' warnings that "reductions in fishing pressure" will be necessary for the recovery of many other species, including cod, plaice, sole and southern hake. | But it underlines scientists' warnings that "reductions in fishing pressure" will be necessary for the recovery of many other species, including cod, plaice, sole and southern hake. |
| The head of marine policy at the Royal Society for Protection of Birds, Euan Dunn, said fisheries ministers drove a stake deeper into the heart of the decimated cod stock ever year. | The head of marine policy at the Royal Society for Protection of Birds, Euan Dunn, said fisheries ministers drove a stake deeper into the heart of the decimated cod stock ever year. |
| "We urge them to have a vision of our waters as a fragile ecosystem, and to show the political will to protect it," he said. | "We urge them to have a vision of our waters as a fragile ecosystem, and to show the political will to protect it," he said. |
| The Madrid-based conservation group Oceana also urged the ministers to "change course in their fisheries policy and begin to consider the warnings arriving from all sides of the scientific world". | The Madrid-based conservation group Oceana also urged the ministers to "change course in their fisheries policy and begin to consider the warnings arriving from all sides of the scientific world". |
| But Ms Thom pointed out that cod is caught by boats fishing for other species including haddock, whiting and prawns. | But Ms Thom pointed out that cod is caught by boats fishing for other species including haddock, whiting and prawns. |
| "If ministers were to decide that that's it, we're going to stop all catches of cod, then you have to stop all these fisheries," she said. | "If ministers were to decide that that's it, we're going to stop all catches of cod, then you have to stop all these fisheries," she said. |
| 'Devastating' | 'Devastating' |
| The Scottish Fisherman's Federation (SFF) has said the commission's recommendations, which could mean trawlers may only be allowed to work for two-and-a-half days each week, made no sense because many stocks are in robust health. | The Scottish Fisherman's Federation (SFF) has said the commission's recommendations, which could mean trawlers may only be allowed to work for two-and-a-half days each week, made no sense because many stocks are in robust health. |
| John Buchan, a fisherman based in Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, told the Today programme any further cuts would be devastating. | John Buchan, a fisherman based in Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, told the Today programme any further cuts would be devastating. |
| "We need every day out we can get. We just survived this year, on the days that we had," he said. | "We need every day out we can get. We just survived this year, on the days that we had," he said. |
| "If they cut it by 25% I can say this, no-one in the Scottish fleet would be viable." | "If they cut it by 25% I can say this, no-one in the Scottish fleet would be viable." |
| Fishermen from Northern Ireland are also set to take an active role in the talks, with County Down-based trawlermen pushing for a 20% increase in their prawn catch. | Fishermen from Northern Ireland are also set to take an active role in the talks, with County Down-based trawlermen pushing for a 20% increase in their prawn catch. |
| Northern Irish prawn boats are currently allowed 220 days at sea but fishermen fear that number may now be reduced. | Northern Irish prawn boats are currently allowed 220 days at sea but fishermen fear that number may now be reduced. |